Hypercharge: Unboxed Sells 100,000 Copies on Xbox, And It’s Only Just Getting Started

Hypercharge: Unboxed Sells 100,000 Copies on Xbox, And It’s Only Just Getting Started

Today, we’re thrilled to celebrate developer Digital Cybercherries’ announcement that Hypercharge: Unboxed, the high-octane shooter, has sold over 100,000 copies on Xbox consoles

Released just one month ago, Hypercharge: Unboxed is a chaotic first-and-third-person shooter that places you in a world of sentient childhood toys, brought to life by the ancient power of the Hypercore. Your task is to defend the Hypercore from total destruction by taking down the waves of rogue toys sent to destroy it.

Speaking to Xbox Wire, Hypercharge: Unboxed Creative Gameplay & Marketing Director Joe Henson shares that they’re “overwhelmed with emotions” about the response to the game on Xbox. “It feels almost surreal – like living in a dream. Sometimes, I wake up and wonder if it’s all real!

“To have poured our hearts into this project and to see it embraced so warmly by our players is incredibly fulfilling.”

Henson shares that reaching this milestone on Xbox has been transformative for the studio’s small team of six. The success has not only changed their lives, but has also altered the dynamic of their indie studio and what it can focus on next.

“We now have the ability to allocate a decent budget towards marketing and invest in areas of the game that we previously couldn’t afford to enhance,” Henson says. “Additionally, the support from Xbox has been phenomenal, helping us get the game in front of as many players as possible. Their support has been invaluable, and we are truly grateful for it.”

Hypercharge: Unboxed itself harks back to the simple shooters of old, and Henson cites both Halo and Goldeneye as examples of similar games with easy to pick up but highly engaging mechanics. It’s these characteristics that make Hypercharge: Unboxed feel incredibly at home on Xbox, and for Digital Cybercherries, the choice to bring their exciting new shooter to the platform felt like a no brainer.

“This kind of nostalgic gameplay really resonates with Xbox players, plus the inclusion of split-screen play enhances that old-school feel,” Henson adds.

Thinking Outside the Box

The idea of Hypercharge: Unboxed stemmed from a simple but compelling curiosity – what would the world look like from a miniature perspective? Taking inspiration from the likes of seminal ’80s and ’90s movies such as “Toy Story”, “Honey, I Shrunk The Kids,” and – most importantly for the team – “Small Soldiers”, the studio found themselves enamoured with the concept of bringing these nostalgic, childhood memories to life.

“While brainstorming ideas for our first game, someone mentioned ‘Small Soldiers’ and a lightbulb went off,” Henson says. “We couldn’t believe we’d almost forgotten such a pivotal film from our childhoods! We watched it there and then, and were mesmerized by the animations, the whimsical story, and how it made action figures feel alive.”

Many of us are joined by those same nostalgic memories, and Henson believes that is what makes Hypercharge: Unboxed’s setting feel truly unique.

Hypercharge isn’t just a game; it’s an experience that strengthens bonds and spans generations,” Henson says. “For parents who grew up in the late ’80s and early ’90s, it’s a trip down memory lane – a chance to relive the excitement of their childhood. But more importantly, it allows them to share this joy with their children.”

With several multiplayer modes – including 1-4 player online and local co-op  – and an offline PvE story campaign, there are tons of ways for friends and families to gather and relive the nostalgia coursing through Hypercharge: Unboxed together.

And the game is only just getting started on Xbox. While the small team is hard at working to ensure the smoothest possible experience on Xbox consoles, Henson shares that with us that the they’re also exploring an ‘Endless Game Mode’ –  where you’ll test your mettle against endless waves of enemies. There’s no building, just pure, plastic chaos that keeps you on the edge of your seat. It’s early days for the idea, but the studio is extremely excited about the potential.

“The Xbox community has provided a wealth of positive feedback, which has been invaluable,” Henson adds. “We already have our next update planned, but with the excitement and support we’ve received, who knows, there might even be a Hypercharge 2 in the future!”

Hypercharge: Unboxed is out now for Xbox Series X|S.

Xbox Live

HYPERCHARGE Unboxed

Digital Cybercherries Limited


251

$29.99

HELP SGT. MAX AMMO TO DEFEAT MAJOR EVIL AND SAVE THE HYPERCORE!

There was once an ancient line of action figures, who created a magical power source that would allow humans to keep their favourite childhood memories of their toys. This ancient power source is known as the Hypercore.

Inside the Hypercore are the beloved memories of our favorite toys. If Major Evil destroys it, these memories will disappear forever. Defend it with everything you’ve got, or see our cherished toys turn into lost treasures of the past!

Hypercharge is a first and third-person shooter action figure game you’ve always dreamed of! Grab your friends, complete objectives, defend the Hypercore against waves of weaponized toys, and defeat Major Evil together in the story campaign!

PLAY CO-OP WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Work together as a team to defend the Hypercore. Grab a friend, break out of your toy packaging, and get ready to fight waves of classic toys. Prepare for each wave by searching for weapons, resources, and even hidden secrets.

OFFLINE PLAY FOR SOLO PLAYERS
Not everybody likes to play online. Hypercharge supports Offline, Split-Screen and Local play. You can progress and unlock everything in-game while playing solo.

PLAYER BOTS
Don’t have a team to play with? Don’t worry, we’ve got you solo players covered. Player bots listen to your commands, collect resources, and even help to build defences.

UNLOCK ACTION FIGURES
In Hypercharge, hundreds of unlocks are available, all of which can be earned directly in-game without any microtransactions.

PLAYER VERSUS PLAYER MODES
Go head-to-head against other action figures as you fight to become top of the scoreboard! Classic PvP modes include Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Capture the Battery, Infection, and King of the Hill.

The post Hypercharge: Unboxed Sells 100,000 Copies on Xbox, And It’s Only Just Getting Started appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Next Week on Xbox: New Games for July 1 to 5

Next Week on Xbox - Hero Image

Next Week on Xbox: New Games for July 1 to 5

Welcome to Next Week on Xbox! In this weekly feature we cover all the games coming soon to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, and Game Pass! Get more details on these upcoming games below and click their profiles for further info (release dates subject to change). Let’s jump in!


[Pre-Order] FINAL FANTASY XIV: Dawntrail

SQUARE ENIX


11

$39.99

Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail – July 2

Blue seas, clear skies, and boundless possibilities await in Dawntrail, the newest expansion pack for the critically acclaimed Final Fantasy XIV Online! Explore uncharted territories with familiar faces as you discover new tribes, confront formidable threats, and expand your horizons as hope’s light dawns once more.


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The First Descendant

NEXON

The First Descendant – July 2
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Combat the alien Vulgus and protect the planet Albion and the continent of Ingris! The First Descendant is a free-to-play third-person co-op action RPG looter shooter with high-quality graphics powered by Unreal Engine 5. Featuring a wide variety of characters with unique concepts and combat styles, massive boss battles, four player co-op, a variety of weapons, and more!


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Fit My Cat

©RedDeerGames

Fit My Cat – July 3

Imagine a cardboard box. Is it shaped to fit one to two fluffy felines? What about five? What about twenty? Fit My Cat presents you with many cute kitties that all wish to sit where they deem fit. Test your skills and show the world that herding cats is where fun begins!


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Parkitect: Deluxe Edition

BlitWorks

Parkitect: Deluxe Edition – July 3

Welcome to Parkitect: Deluxe Edition, a modern take on classic park tycoons where you build and manage the theme parks of your dreams. Construct your own coasters, design an efficiently operating park that fully immerses your guests in its theme, and play through the campaign.


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Shy Cats Hidden Orchestra

Lucky Raccoon Games

Shy Cats Hidden Orchestra – July 3
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Shy Cats Hidden Orchestra is a hidden object game where you need to find musician kittens that are embarrassed to play their music. When you find them, they will play songs for you.


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Agatha Christie – The ABC Murders (Xbox Series)

Microids

$19.99

Agatha Christie – The ABC Murders – July 4
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

The ABC Murders is an adventure and investigation game adapted from the classic Agatha Christie novel. The player embodies the famous Hercule Poirot in a 3rd person perspective adventure game packed with mysteries. Once again, the private detective will find himself up against a mysterious opponent who goes by the name of ABC.


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Scholar’s Mate

JanduSoft


$12.49

$9.99

Scholar’s Mate – July 4
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

An immersive first-person horror experience that puts you in the shoes of Judith, a young woman who wakes up in the gloomy facilities of a psychiatric hospital. You must escape from this macabre place by solving mysteries while avoiding capture by Eddie, your sinister hunter.


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Bleak Faith

PERP GAMES

Bleak Faith – July 5
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Explore the last remnants of civilization in this vast, unforgiving, and interconnected world. Learn what is left of its history. Discover pockets of civilization in the perpetually expanding Omnistructure. Lose yourself in a journey unlike any other.


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Bouncy Chicken

Eastasiasoft Limited

Bouncy Chicken – July 5
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

It’s time for some fun on the farm in whimsical action puzzler Bouncy Chicken! Master single-screen challenges in top-down 3D style as you take aim at fire your feathered projectile around the chicken pen to gather cobs of corn. The objective is to collect every cob of corn on screen before your shot chances run out.


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Cyber Citizen Shockman Zero

Ratalaika Games S.L.

Cyber Citizen Shockman Zero – July 5
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

A new mysterious enemy threatens the world once again! Only one hero can save the world… Shockman! Join bionic heroes Raita and Azuki as they face all kinds of dangerous enemies to save humanity. Is this heroic task too much for you? Then join forces with a friend for some classic-style action!


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Neckbreak

©RedDeerGames

Neckbreak – July 5

Find yourself in a future city full of gangs, mafias, and other shady people. Become a vigilante who works during the day and gets into a killing frenzy at night. Hop in the car, select a destination, and explore every corner of Crimson Tide. If you want to feel an adrenaline rush, you can explore the city on foot but watch your back and don’t ask too many questions.


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Overdrive Blaster

Xeneder Team

Overdrive Blaster – July 5

In this retro-style arcade game, you must shoot monsters to gather their colored spheres! Get three of the same color in a row to get an update; get all three colors to win.


Xbox Live

Paper io 2

QubicGames S.A.


$4.99

$3.99

Paper io 2 – July 5

Paint the map in your own color, eliminate your opponents, get the highest score and take over the Paper io world. Use your strategic skills and power-ups to attack and claim all of the white space that was previously owned by other players.


The post Next Week on Xbox: New Games for July 1 to 5 appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Bleach: Brave Souls Is a Faithful Action Experience With Over 600 Playable Characters

Summary

  • Collect and play as over 600 characters, many in never-before-seen outfits.
  • Enjoy a story mode that lets you relive the adventures of Ichigo.
  • Play alone or with up to 5 friends to defeat formidable foes.

Hello, Bleach fans! We’re thrilled to announce that as of today, our 3D action game Bleach: Brave Souls is available on Xbox consoles.

As Bleach fans ourselves, we dreamed of what it would be like for so many of its characters to be playable in a single game. To that end, every character in Bleach: Brave Souls is voiced and has a Special Move showcasing their prowess in battle. You can take control of Ichigo and use his Getsugatensho to get through the battlefield, choose Uryu to shoot enemies down from afar with a Quincy bow, or pick from many, many more.

Bleach Brave Souls Screenshot

How Does Bleach: Brave Souls Work?

In Bleach: Brave Souls, you’ll face off against enemies in a variety of single player and co-op quests using normal attacks, strong attacks, and a special move that can often deal devastating damage! However, button mashing isn’t always the answer – you’ll need to evade attacks by using your character’s Flash Step and manage the cooldown times of your character’s strong attacks.

To come out on top you’ll need to prepare. All playable characters and enemies have Attributes and Affiliations with strengths and weaknesses. For example, an enemy may have the “Power” Attribute and belong to the “Hollow” Affiliation. In this situation, it’s good to bring a character with a Speed Attribute, as they are strong against Power, and a “Hollow killer”, as this increases the damage dealt to Hollow Affiliation enemies.

It may seem simple at first, but to defeat more powerful enemies you’ll need to think about power-ups such as Link Slots, which let characters Inherit skills and boost their stats, as well as Transcendence, Ascension, and other mechanics that can be adjusted to bring out the best of your characters. 

Bleach Brave Souls Screenshot

Play as All Your Favorite Characters

Bleach: Brave Souls‘ story mode starts from the first arc of the Bleach anime, “The Substitute Soul Reaper” arc, and goes all the way through to the events depicted in the newly released “Bleach TV Animation Series: Thousand-Year Blood War”. Along the way, you can enjoy 3D action where you take control of your favorite characters to fight enemies in scenarios based on the anime, as well as 2D cutscenes containing stills from the anime, through which you can relive your favorite moments from the Bleach story.

Bleach Brave Souls Screenshot

Ever Wondered What Your Favorite Character Would Look Like in a Different Outfit?

While we’ve taken care to faithfully reproduce the characters’ looks from different points in the story, Bleach: Brave Souls also features a great number of characters in never-before-seen outfits. You can play as a parasol-toting version of Rukia, a cyberpunk-themed version of Ulquiorra, and many more exciting recreations! With over 600 characters in the game, you’ll be able to see a whole new side to your favorite characters.

Bleach Brave Souls Screenshot

Learn More About the World of Bleach

The “Spirits Are Forever With You” and “Can’t Fear Your Own World” novels, which also take place in the Bleach universe, may not have not had their stories told in the anime, but their characters are playable in Bleach: Brave Souls.

You can play as the “Spirits Are Forever With You” version of Toshiro, who has unlocked a power greater than Bankai, or the “Can’t Fear Your Own World” version of Shinji, whose Bankai became the talk of fans around the globe!

Bleach Brave Souls Screenshot

Play with Friends as your Favorite Characters

Bleach: Brave Souls has a lot of solo content, but we wanted to make sure that Bleach fans could play and enjoy the game together.

One of the game’s co-op modes is called Epic Raids, where you are tasked with defeating a powerful boss with a team of up to 6 players for great rewards.

Whether you and your friends launch into action as Ichigo and his companions, or as a more unlikely band of allies, the options are almost endless thanks to the roster of characters that have been carefully designed to fit into the world of Bleach.

Bleach Brave Souls Screenshot

Release Date and a Special Gift for Xbox Players

Bleach: Brave Souls is out now, and free-to-play on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One.

And we’ve got an extra gift for you: if you download the game on Xbox Series X|S or Xbox One you will get a free in-game pack that contains items which are ideal for new players, such as a 5-star Summons Ticket and an accessory that increases your character’s exp. points. Jump into Bleach: Brave Souls now to experience the world of Bleach.

The post Bleach: Brave Souls Is a Faithful Action Experience With Over 600 Playable Characters appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Xbox Gaming Coming to Amazon Fire TV: Play More Games, No Console Needed

Xbox Gaming Coming to Amazon Fire TV: Play More Games, No Console Needed

Amazon Xbox Hero Image

At Xbox, we’re committed to bringing the joy and community of gaming to everyone.  Today, we’re announcing a collaboration with Amazon where Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members in over 25 countries can play games directly from the Xbox app on select Fire TV devices via cloud gaming, giving people even more choice in how they play their favorite games.

The Xbox app will soon be available on the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2023) ($59.99) and Fire TV Stick 4K (2023) ($49.99). For people new to console gaming, or for those looking for another way to play, it’s a great low-cost, convenient, and portable option to enjoy a huge library of incredible games.

To get started, players just need a Fire TV Stick, a Bluetooth-enabled wireless controller, and an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership to gain instant access to hundreds of phenomenal games, including Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, Starfield, and Forza Horizon 5, among others.

Plus, Bethesda Game Studios’ beloved Fallout games are also available with Game Pass Ultimate, including Fallout 76 and Fallout 4. Fallout fans will be able to play these games on select Amazon Fire TV devices alongside the acclaimed Fallout TV show on Prime Video, which released in April.

Amazon Xbox Hero Image

Once downloaded, the Xbox app is designed to offer a smooth and seamless experience. Here’s how it works:

  • Simply install and launch the Xbox app from your Fire TV device.
  • Sign in with your Microsoft account to play. If you’re an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate member, you’ll have instant access to hundreds of cloud-enabled games.
  • Not a member? No worries! You can join Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for one low monthly price, or check out Fortnite without a membership.
  • Connect a Bluetooth-enabled wireless controller. Controllers like the Xbox Wireless Controller, Xbox Adaptive Controller, PlayStation DualSense, or DualShock 4 controller are all compatible.
  • Start Playing!

Over the past several years, we have been on a journey to deliver cloud gaming to more devices and to more people around the globe. We are excited to add Fire TV to our growing family of cloud gaming devices and eager to welcome new players into this experience.

Stay tuned for additional details. You can read about Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) on Fire TV devices at Amazon’s blog here, and to learn more about Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta), visit xbox.com/cloudgaming.

The post Xbox Gaming Coming to Amazon Fire TV: Play More Games, No Console Needed appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Indie Selects for June: Amazing Indie Games We Are Really Excited About

Indie Selects for June: Amazing Indie Games We Are Really Excited About

Another great month for indie games! This is the sixth set of Indie Selects and we’re happy to report that we had no problem finding some real gems again this month. Starting with the return of a classic Xbox Live Arcade title, the Indie Selects for June also includes a hysterical clown asymmetric horror title, a breakout hit starring your favorite action figures, a truly mesmerizing story that’s as funny as it is disturbing, and more. Here’s the list (in no particular order).


Braid: Anniversary Edition

Braid: Anniversary Edition Key Art

The original Braid came out 16 whole years ago and was a landmark release that helped define the Xbox Live Arcade era, demonstrating that indie games, artistic games, and digital only releases can succeed on consoles. Repainted “pixel by pixel,” the new Anniversary Edition puts you in control of the flow of time once again, and features a new world of puzzles and an incredible amount of developer commentary.


Xbox Live

Braid, Anniversary Edition

Thekla, Inc.


16

$19.99

Control the flow of time to solve subtle platform puzzles in this update of the indie classic “Braid,” featuring refreshed artwork and seriously in-depth creator commentary. Travel from a city house through a series of interconnected worlds where time behaves strangely, searching for an elusive Princess. Along the way you’ll explore memories and regrets that still haunt you. This Anniversary Edition remaster of the award-winning platformer contains fully repainted high-resolution graphics, new sound effects and extensive audio commentary.

MANIPULATE TIME TO MOVE FORWARD
Rewind, pause and use the strange properties of time in each world to run and jump through beautifully painted environments. Avoid hazards, unlock doors and collect jigsaw puzzle pieces to assemble. If you get hung up on a particular puzzle, feel free to move on and return later.

A FRESH COAT OF PAINT
This is the game you remember, with all the original challenges and the same haunting, evocative score — but repainted pixel by pixel so that each carefully rendered world comes to life in high resolution. New visual details, animated brushstroke effects and revamped sounds add to the immersive experience.

GO (DEEP) BEHIND THE SCENES
Explore the most extensive developer commentary ever put into a game, with over 12 hours of recorded insight and conversation from developer Jonathan Blow, artist David Hellman and more members of the “Braid” creative team. Navigate it by visiting a new in-game world, which also contains new puzzles and redesigns of classic puzzles. – Created by Thekla, Inc.


Duck Detective: The Secret Salami

Duck Detective: The Secret Salami Key Art

Duck Detective: The Secret Salami is a delightfully quaky mystery detective game that puts you into the webbed feet of a down-on-his-luck duck with amazing powers of “deducktion.” But it’s not all duck puns. As the story unfolds, the narrative takes on a more complex and, at times, serious tone that will keep you hooked until the very end. Great animation and writing really bring the experience together.


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Xbox Play Anywhere

Duck Detective: The Secret Salami

Happy Broccoli Games


8

$9.99

SOLVING CRIME IS NO WALK IN THE POND.

Aggretsuko meets Return of the Obra Dinn in Duck Detective, a cozy mystery game about a down-on-his-luck duck searching for answers in a sinister sausage-based conspiracy.

THIS MIGHT RUFFLE SOME FEATHERS.
Join the Duck Detective on his latest, greatest case:

Inspect and interview suspects to learn their hidden secrets, then use the information you’ve gathered (plus your own de-duck-tive reasoning) to locate the suspect and bust the case wide open!


Hypercharge: Unboxed   

Hypercharge: Unboxed Key Art

Major Evil is coming for your hypercore! If you lose it, humans will forget about you and you’ll be relegated to the eternal dustbin of forgotten toys! You see, you’re an action figure. And so are your friends. In Hypercharge Unboxed you defend your hypercore against wave after wave of enemies in various rooms throughout the house. Between waves you can build up defenses such as glue traps, walls, and turrets. It hits a perfect mix of childhood nostalgia and frenzied action that is challenging but forgiving. Created by a tiny, indie studio the game has taken Xbox by storm.


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HYPERCHARGE Unboxed

Digital Cybercherries Limited


251

$29.99

HELP SGT. MAX AMMO TO DEFEAT MAJOR EVIL AND SAVE THE HYPERCORE!

There was once an ancient line of action figures, who created a magical power source that would allow humans to keep their favourite childhood memories of their toys. This ancient power source is known as the Hypercore.

Inside the Hypercore are the beloved memories of our favorite toys. If Major Evil destroys it, these memories will disappear forever. Defend it with everything you’ve got, or see our cherished toys turn into lost treasures of the past!

Hypercharge is a first and third-person shooter action figure game you’ve always dreamed of! Grab your friends, complete objectives, defend the Hypercore against waves of weaponized toys, and defeat Major Evil together in the story campaign!

PLAY CO-OP WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Work together as a team to defend the Hypercore. Grab a friend, break out of your toy packaging, and get ready to fight waves of classic toys. Prepare for each wave by searching for weapons, resources, and even hidden secrets.

OFFLINE PLAY FOR SOLO PLAYERS
Not everybody likes to play online. Hypercharge supports Offline, Split-Screen and Local play. You can progress and unlock everything in-game while playing solo.

PLAYER BOTS
Don’t have a team to play with? Don’t worry, we’ve got you solo players covered. Player bots listen to your commands, collect resources, and even help to build defences.

UNLOCK ACTION FIGURES
In Hypercharge, hundreds of unlocks are available, all of which can be earned directly in-game without any microtransactions.

PLAYER VERSUS PLAYER MODES
Go head-to-head against other action figures as you fight to become top of the scoreboard! Classic PvP modes include Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Capture the Battery, Infection, and King of the Hill.


Indika

Indika Key Art

Indika is a narrative adventure set in an alternative Russia in the 19th Century. You play as a young nun who sets off on a journey of self-discovery in a story that explores themes of faith, human morality and religious extremism. Sounds pretty somber, right? It’s not, though. It’s darkly humorous, and features a diverse combination of “walking sim” like exploration in both first and third person, mixed with light puzzle solving, some action sequences, and a thematic or maybe symbolic RPG-like point system that doesn’t affect the gameplay. And then there are flashbacks that are told through retro, arcade-style minigames. It’s an absolutely fascinating game that pushes the boundaries of what we expect in gaming in a number of different ways.


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INDIKA

11 bit studios


42

$24.99

MEET A NOT-SO-ORDINARY NUN

INDIKA is a third-person, story-driven game set in a strange world where religious visions clash with harsh reality. It tells the story of a young nun who sets off on a journey of self-discovery with the most unusual, horn-headed companion by her side.

On the outside, Indika seems to be a typical nun attempting to adjust to a difficult and monotonous monastery life. Humble and innocent in her appearance, do not be deceived as this young girl has also made a highly unlikely acquaintance—as she speaks with the devil himself.

Indika’s unusual connection with the Evil One leads her on an errand beyond the safe walls of the monastery. The world she discovers can only be described as a wild combination of comedy and tragedy straight out of the novels by Dostoyevski and Bulhakov.

ENJOY AN INDIE GAME WHERE EVERYTHING GOES

The subjects of religion and authority are prevalent throughout Indika’s journey and she’ll be faced with many questions along the way. Guide her to find the answers one by one before she can finish her life-defining odyssey.

Odd Meter is a small, independent studio formerly based in Moscow and now operating out of Kazakhstan. Its members put aesthetics at the forefront and aren’t afraid to tread the fine line of ethical norms. Their game is a great testament to that, as INDIKA constitutes an open challenge to the industry’s established approach to creating video games.


Killer Klownz From Outer Space: The Game

Killer Klownz From Outer Space: The Game Key Art

If you haven’t seen the 1980s cult classic horror (sort of) film Killer Klowns from Outer Space, you should probably just stop what you’re doing right now and go watch it. Yes, it’s cheesy and silly and not-very-scary, but it’s also hysterical and delightful. Seriously, it’s great. And it’s the basis for this new asymmetric horror game. There has been no shortage of those recently, ranging from Friday the 13th, to Evil Dead, to Texas Chainsaw Massacre, to the long list of famous killers that have been featured in Dead by Daylight. KKFOS takes that tried-and-true formula and makes it, well, Klowny. The Klowns themselves are absolutely hilarious and really fun to play, with their squeaking Klown feet, and balloon animal tracking dogs. But it’s also a blast to play as a human, with a large variety of props, tools and weapons to discover as you try to stay a popcorn blast ahead of the Klowns. Beyond just the humor, though, KKFOS has almost perfectly balanced the various roles players can embody, and it’s a visual treat that any fan of the movie (or just of asymmetrical gameplay) is going to love.


Xbox Live

Killer Klowns From Outer Space: The Game

IllFonic Publishing


216

$39.99

Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game is an asymmetrical multiplayer horror based on the iconic ‘80s film. In the battle between Killer Klowns and citizens of Crescent Cove, team up and use your wits to harvest humans or save them from the alien invasion!

Crescent Cove is a sprawling arena for these unique multiplier fights between Klowns and humans – boasting various locations, and various tactical opportunities for both teams. Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game provides a unique approach to hide-and-seek gameplay, customization, PvPvE, and dynamic objectives leading to multiple match results. This game evolves the online horror formula in new ways.

Take on the role of the iconic Killer Klowns – cooperate in a team of three players, utilize unworldly abilities, hunt humans with zany weapons, and plan your alien invasion to harvest the population of Crescent Cove successfully.

Fight back as a team of seven brave citizens of Crescent Cove – explore the city for valuable loot and weapons, avoid getting captured by Klowns, and try to survive the alien invasion.


Paper Trail

Paper Trail Key Art

Paper Trail is not the first “folding-based” puzzle game (check out A Fold Apart as another excellent example) but it’s really well done. The principle game mechanic seems simple enough: each screen is laid out like a piece of paper and you need to fold it from the side or diagonally to solve each puzzle. That can involve simply getting the character from one side of the screen to the other over, say, a broken bridge, or finding a key, or moving a boulder out of the way. As you might expect, the puzzles get more sophisticated and complex as you progress, with many involving multiple layers that must be completed in the correct order. Fortunately there’s a robust hint system to get you through any puzzles that might prove too difficult. The soundtrack is fantastic, and the saturated visuals are stunning, all adding up to make this a stand-out puzzle experience.


Xbox Live

Paper Trail

Newfangled Games

$19.99

Paper Trail is a top-down puzzle adventure about leaving home, set in a foldable, paper world. You play as Paige, a budding academic, leaving home for the first time to pursue her studies. On the journey, you learn to fold the world, merging two sides to solve puzzles, explore new areas and uncover long-lost secrets.


The post Indie Selects for June: Amazing Indie Games We Are Really Excited About appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Four Tasty Tips & Tricks to Aid Your Adventure in BattleCakes

Summary

  • Tips to weeten your journey in BattleCakes.
  • Cozy and cheerful turn-based RPG where you play as a customizable cupcake hero.
  • Available now on Xbox One.

Hi, all! I’m so excited that BattleCakes is now on Xbox! Trouble is brewing in the cake kingdom of Pasteleria as the local critters have become riled up by some mysterious force – causing chaos in the neighboring lands. It’s up to you and your friends, the adventurous Red Velvet and the magical Midnite Truffle, to get to the bottom of it.

And you know what that means… road trip! So, to get off on the right foot… er, wrapper?… Here’s four tasty tips & tricks to aid you on your adventure!

Forage for Crafting Ingredients

Don’t just admire the scenery, shake it up! As you make your way through the various biomes of BattleCakes, make sure you forage for crafting ingredients by shaking bushes, chopping plants and digging wherever you see dirt Xs on the ground.

You can combine those ingredients via Crafting NPCs to make useful items like First Aid Frosting and other boosts and restoratives. Foraging locations randomize and refresh after a good night’s sleep at the local inn, so keep on foraging!

Critters Like Crafting Ingredients Too… Sometimes

Foraging ingredients are unique to each biome, and they can also be a unique favorite of the critters who live there. If you’ve got ingredients to spare, try giving one to critters during an encounter. Find their favorite and you could increase their friendship points. But be careful, because the wrong ingredient could make them extra grumpy, even potentially giving them a power boost.

Stock up on the right ingredients and you could end an encounter extra quick.

Keep Trying Different Toppers

Cake Toppers can give your heroes a variety of bonuses, so be sure to try different combinations on your heroes and swap them out as often as needed. Some Toppers can provide a general stat boost, like to Might or Defense. Some Toppers can boost your friendship with specific critters. Some can protect you from specific critter attacks. And some are just silly or stylish.

…Did you know? Some toppers can just be stuff you find out in the world and decide to stick on your noggin. True story!

Watch out for Reflective Critters

As your journey continues into strange and magical lands, some critters have the unique ability to repel and reflect specific types of attacks back at you. Watch out for the Might, Moxie or Magic icon on their body for a clue as to which hero needs to be careful. For example, Red Velvet’s moves are based on Moxie, so if there is a reflective critter with a Moxie icon on its body try using an item or aiding an ally instead of attacking on her turn. It can save your heroes from accidentally delivering a beating to themselves!

So, there you go! Four tips & tricks to help you on your way, you intrepid hero you. Oh, and of course, don’t forget to look behind those waterfalls!

Happy adventuring!

Xbox Live

BattleCakes

Volcano Bean

$19.99

Indulge in a delicious adventure as you choose to battle or befriend your enemies to save the day your way! Personalize your cupcake hero and meet charming friends along the way. Leave the world better off than you found it in this turn-based RPG.

The post Four Tasty Tips & Tricks to Aid Your Adventure in BattleCakes appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Overwatch 2’s New Mercy Skins Fuel Lifesaving Breast Cancer Research

Overwatch 2’s New Mercy Skins Fuel Lifesaving Breast Cancer Research

Rose Gold Mercy Overwatch 2 Hero Image

Summary

  • Overwatch 2 is raising money for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
  • The Pink Mercy skin and Rose Gold Mercy bundle are available for purchase.
  • Blizzard will donate 100% of the purchase price (excluding any applicable platform fees and taxes) to BCRF’s mission to eradicate breast cancer.

Since 2018, you may have spotted the distinctive Pink Mercy skin in Overwatch and Overwatch 2 – the color symbolic of breast cancer awareness. Mercy wears it proudly as part of supporting the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Now, there’s another chance for players to show their support as well, with the return of the Pink Mercy skin and the debut of the all-new Rose Gold Mercy skin. Both are available for purchase today, benefitting BRCF.

I was only eight years old when my family’s world was turned upside down. The diagnosis of my mother’s breast cancer marked the beginning of a long and arduous battle. Visits to City of Hope Hospital became routine, a place where my brothers and I would spend entire days waiting, playing, and hoping. The image of my mother, weakened by the treatments, is etched in my memory.

Image of Mike Laursen. Blizzard
Mike Laursen, Blizzard

I recall the surgeries, the conversations, and the day we celebrated my mother’s first victory over the disease with pizza and paper party hats—a moment of joy. However, the reprieve was short-lived. The cancer returned during my high school years, and my family’s routine once again revolved around treatments and trips to City of Hope. The normalcy of having a sick parent was a reality that my family and I had to accept. It was during these years that turning to video games was the only way for me to escape the realities of what was happening and find some comfort.

The day my mother’s mastectomy was deemed a success was a glimmer of hope, but it was quickly overshadowed by the discovery that the cancer had moved to her liver. The weeks that followed were a blur, a rush to gather family and make the most of whatever precious time was left. My last memory of my mother is one of pain and a desperate fight for more moments together.

Pink Mercy Overwatch 2 Skin
Pink Mercy Skin

My story is more than just a recount of my personal struggle; it’s a call to action. It’s a reminder that behind every statistic, every campaign, and every research breakthrough, there are real people with real stories. It’s about the unseen battles that many face, the silent warriors who fight without fanfare, and the loved ones who support them through it all. I find solace and purpose in my work, where I am part of a team helping to prevent such stories from repeating. The commitment to fight, help those in need, and bring goodness into the world reflects the heroes we create in our work.

In the spirit of action, I’m excited to share an initiative that combines my passion for gaming with the fight against breast cancer. Blizzard has released special charity skins for Overwatch 2. The new skins are designed for the hero Mercy, a brilliant scientist and “guardian angel” who has dedicated her life to helping others. All sales of the limited-edition Pink Mercy skin and Rose Gold Mercy skin will benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) – now through July 8, Blizzard will donate 100% of the purchase price (excluding applicable platform fees and taxes) towards BCRF’s mission to eradicate breast cancer, which will help families across the globe (terms and conditions here).

Rose Gold Mercy Overwatch 2 Skin
Rose Gold Mercy Skin

In the end, my story is not just about the pain of loss; it’s about the enduring hope that one day, no child will have to remember their mother’s battle with cancer. It’s about working towards a future where the victories are not just temporary, but permanent. It’s about ensuring that the paper party hats are not just a memory, but a symbol of a battle truly won. Let’s carry forward the memory of those we’ve lost by continuing the fight and by being the heroes in our own stories.

In loving memory of Gladys L. Laursen – October 6, 1940-August 21, 2000

The post Overwatch 2’s New Mercy Skins Fuel Lifesaving Breast Cancer Research appeared first on Xbox Wire.

The Armed Squirrel’s Weapon Guide: An Arsenal Overview of Squirrel With a Gun

The wait is nearly over. Coming to Xbox Series X|S this fall, Squirrel With a Gun is the nutty sandbox shooter and puzzle platformer that you didn’t know you needed. And joining the squirrel revolution has never been easier with this handy weapon training guide. Your first mission is to get your paws on a gun. Use your valuable acorns to unlock new weapons found throughout the world or steal one from an enemy agent. But watch your ammo—if you run out, find a reload circle or hold onto the automatic reload tool you can find throughout the world to get you out of a tight spot.

Be sure to try your paw at all 7 weapon types. Each one offers a unique advantage in combat and platforming.

Squirrel With a… 9mm Pistol

Squirrel With a Gun Screenshot

The 9mm semi-automatic pistol will be the first gun available to you. It’s a classic for eliminating enemies one-by-one, or boosting mid-air jumps up to 4 times. Pro tip: Fingers tired from all that shooting? Perform a takedown and watch the Squirrel unload the entire magazine for you.

Squirrel With an… SMG

Squirrel With a Gun Screenshot

The SMG inflicts less damage than the pistol, but its fully automatic feature aids in swiftly taking down enemies. Emptying the entire magazine during a midair jump acts as a makeshift jetpack to boost you up to those hard-to-reach places. A great pick for going on acorn hunts. Pro tip: Use this trick to get to the roof of the haunted house, nabbing the golden acorn on the chimney.

Squirrel With a… Shotgun

Squirrel With a Gun Screenshot

The double-barreled shotgun excels in close-combat, causing a ragdoll effect for epic takedown opportunities. Use its powerful recoil for long-distance travel. Pro tip: Equip the shotgun as you cruise around in your RC car to boost your car to top speed.

Squirrel With a… Six-Shooter

Squirrel With a Gun Screenshot

For the cowsquirrel wannabe, pick up a six-shooter for an especially flashy takedown. Fire all 6 shots to boost your jump. Pro tip: Earn your very own cowsquirrel hat by finding Wild Will and using the six-shooter to complete a secret objective for him.

Squirrel With a… Grenade Launcher

Squirrel With a Gun Screenshot

A much more powerful six-shooter, the grenade launcher dominates at crowd control and explosive gunplay. But beware of its short range and tricky aiming. The gun jump fires straight down, launching you far but causing significant damage. Pro tip: You’ll need to suit up properly to resist explosive damage. Find the bomb suit in a secret underground cave.

Squirrel With a… Rocket Launcher

Squirrel With a Gun Screenshot

For the arsenal expert, grab a rocket launcher for large enemy takedowns or handling groups of agents. Like the grenade launcher, reserve the gun jump for when you’re in a blast-resistant suit. Pro tip: When an enemy fires a rocket at you, try to hitch a ride on it right back at them.

Squirrel With a… Sniper Rifle

Squirrel With a Gun Screenshot

Post up on a squirrely vantage point with the semi-automatic sniper rifle to take out enemies long distance. Even the sniper rifle performs an epic takedown on enemies, even if they’re far away. When platforming, utilize the sniper gun jump for an extreme vertical boost. Its powerful kickback can even knock down nearby baddies. Pro tip: Take down a certain boss from above by finding the sniper rifle up in the scaffolding and aiming for weak spots.


Choose your weapon wisely and when a gun isn’t handy, try to get creative. Throw a grenade, brick, bottle, football, cake, or whatever is around that you can get your paws on to take down the enemy and earn those nuts at any cost.

Squirrel With a Gun is coming to Xbox this Fall! Wishlist now on Xbox Series X|S. For more information on Squirrel With a Gun and Maximum Entertainment visit www.SquirrelWithAGun.com follow @QuiteDan on X (formerly Twitter) and @MaximumEntmt on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, and Discord.

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